Tag Archives: online movies

In my last post I compared the marketing focus and features of Netflix and Blockbuster mail order DVD programs. Traditionally these have been thought of as complementary programming to standard cable or satellite TV. However, with added features such as television network programming, they may become substitute products for cable and satellite in the future.

Another group of alternatives is online streaming video and programming from companies such as Hulu and Joost.

Joost provides television, movie, and music programming through online streaming. The content is free of charge to the consumer as ads from sponsors pay for the service. The Joost web site is a a full-on social media site with recommended content, reviews from others, sharing links, popular content, etc. There is even an iPhone app to stream the content.

What surprised me was that the television programming was up-to-date. I picked CSI: NY at random from a list of dramas. The first episode originally aired on March 25, 2009 on the network and was posted online for viewing just a few days later. The film selection on Joost did not appear so fresh. Not bad if you like classics or want to catch up some films you never knew existed.

All-in-all, the site is mainly focused as a navigation of content tool. Information about how they manage their programming, a knowledge base, a blog, and other program type materials are in the footer of the application away from primary eye-sight.

Hulu contains television programming and video content without the music section offered by Joost. As with Joost the selection of films is very dated or unpopular, while the television programming is recent. The site also has a blog to keep subscribers informed of new content. Hulu is a catalog based sited. It’s purpose to to create a catalog of online content so that users may navigate and watch.

So are these online and mail order content providers ready to replace your cable/satellite programming? I think that depends what type of programming you watch. If you watch alot of current programming such as sports or news then this option is not for you yet. But if you watch alot of TV series and an occasional movie then these options could be your way to unhook that cable/satellite box.

It’s 2009 and just like you have alternatives for how you listen to music (radio, satellite, CD, digital player, etc.), there are a growing number of alternatives for how you watch video content as well. Gone are the days when you were restricted to watching video on your television from cable or satellite. You’ve got choices now for free or subscription based content delivered through your Internet device or from a home subscription service. This can make a big difference in your monthly budget. Right now I pay $52 per month for expanded basic cable TV (No movie channels, No High Definition, No DVR, yaddy yadda.) That’s $624 annually for 100 channels of programming of which I probably view 10-15. There’s opportunity for cost savings for sure. But what about buyer utility? What about choosing the content I want to see?

In this post I’ll take a look at mail order alternatives from Netflix and Blockbuster. I’d like to look in general at how these programmers are marketed and at the difference in features. In a follow-up post, I’ll look at free online streamed content.

Netflix

I found that Netflix focuses on two primary features in its online Marketing: The ability to have unlimited rentals each month and its ability to stream content to your PC or TV at no additional cost. They are a few mentions of television episode programming as well. I think this will become a larger feature for them in the future as they compete with traditional television and programming. They also heavily promote the speed of the turn-around service you receive for DVDs.

Blockbuster

Blockbuster focused its marketing effort on promoting the fact that they have a mail-in option that can be combined with in-store returns and exchanges. Their subscription plans vary with the fee for exchanging in a store versus a mail-back. They also promote the ability for just a simple return to a store which releases the next mail-order DVD in the mail to you.

Feature Comparison

Feature

Netflix

Blockbuster Online

Shipping

Free shipping both ways

Free shipping both ways. Additional option to return to store for exchange for discounted rental.